Ceramic multilayer component, method for the production thereof, and retaining device

ABSTRACT

A retaining device for use when sintering electrical components made of ceramic and metal electrodes inside the ceramic. The retaining device includes a structure to hold the electrical components. The structure has a surface that contains a sintering aid. The sintering aid includes a material that is able to bind to a gas contained in the structure and to release the gas.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.10/504,398, filed May 30, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,508,112 the contentsof which are incorporated by reference into this application as if setforth herein in full. This application also claims priority tointernational application no. PCT/DE03/00435, and to German applicationno. 10205877.6. The contents of international application no.PCT/DE03/00435 and German application no. 10205877.6 are incorporated byreference into this application as if set forth herein in full.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a ceramic multi-layer component, having a basebody containing a sintered ceramic and having internal electrodes.Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a ceramicmulti-layer component, in which an unsintered ceramic is sintered.Furthermore, the invention relates to a retaining device for use whensintering a ceramic multi-layer component.

BACKGROUND

From published patent WO 01/45138 A2, a method is known for producing apiezoelectric component that has internal electrodes made of copper. Thecomponent is produced by sintering in a sintering atmosphere thatcontains oxygen. The requisite oxygen partial pressure is set via a gasequilibrium that appears between the gases hydrogen and water vapor.Normally, ceramic materials based on lead zirconium titanate are used toproduce a piezo actuator. In addition, retaining devices are used forholding a large number of unsintered components in a sintering furnace,which are made up of temperature-resistant structured ceramics, such asalumina, cordierite, silicon carbide, etc.

To prevent oxidation of the copper internal electrodes, it is necessaryin the known method to set the oxygen partial pressure within a verynarrow permissible pressure range. If the oxygen partial pressure isbelow this permissible level, the PZT ceramic is very easily reduced andthereby irreversibly damaged. If the permissible oxygen partial pressureis exceeded, this results in oxidation of and damage to the copperinternal electrodes.

The known method has the disadvantage that the oxygen partial pressureset by the hydrogen/water vapor gas equilibrium can very easily bepushed outside of the permissible working range by very small quantitiesof oxygen-absorbing or oxygen-releasing substances. For example,substances such as residual carbon, impurities in the ceramic, orevaporation of lead from the ceramic can result in a shift in the oxygenpartial pressure.

This can have the effect that even with the best possible setting of thegas atmosphere during sintering, local oxidation of the copper internalelectrodes is observable. This manifests itself in intermediate layersor intermediate areas of copper oxide deposited between the internalelectrodes and the ceramic material, which is macroscopically visible inthe micrograph perpendicular to the internal electrodes. Theseintermediate layers of copper oxide cause degrading of the electricalproperties of the piezoelectric component.

SUMMARY

It is the object of the present invention to provide a method forproducing a ceramic multi-layer component, in which the oxygen contentof the sintering atmosphere is stabilized. It is also the object of theinvention to provide a ceramic multi-layer component whose electricalproperties are improved. In addition, it is the object of the inventionto provide a retaining device which permits the method according to theinvention for producing a ceramic multi-layer component to be carriedout in simple manner.

These problems are solved by a method for producing a ceramicmulti-layer component according to claims 1 and 2, by a ceramicmulti-layer component according to claim 8. Advantageous embodiments ofthe invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

A method for producing a ceramic multi-layer component is provided,wherein a base body that contains an unsintered ceramic and that has atleast one metal-containing internal electrode is sintered. The sinteringtakes place in a sintering atmosphere, normally in a closed sinteringvolume. Within the sintering atmosphere, there is a sintering aid, whichis able to bind and again release a gas contained in the sinteringatmosphere.

This binding can occur, for example, by means of physisorption or elseby chemisorption.

The provision of a sintering aid in the sintering atmosphere has theadvantage that the sintering aid can work to a certain extent as abuffer, which is able to bind a surplus gas component contained in thesintering atmosphere and to give off the same component to the sinteringatmosphere if it is deficient. That makes it possible to stabilize thesintering atmosphere in regard to its gas composition.

Furthermore, a method for producing a ceramic multi-layer component isspecified in which the sintering aid contains a metal whose redoxpotential is at least as great as the redox potential of the metalcontained in the internal electrodes.

By providing a metal-containing a sintering aid in the sinteringatmosphere during the sintering, it is possible to achieve the resultthat if the sintering atmosphere is modified in such a way that theinternal electrodes are oxidized, the sintering aid is oxidized first bypreference. That makes it possible to prevent oxidation of the internalelectrodes. Metals whose redox potential is lower than the redoxpotential of the metal contained in the internal electrodes are lesswell suited for this purpose, since they are easily oxidized insintering atmospheres that just avoid oxidation of the more nobleinternal electrodes and would thereby, for example, constantly extractoxygen from the sintering atmosphere.

In contrast, metals are suitable as sintering aids whose redox potentialis greater than the redox potential of the metal contained in theinternal electrodes, and which are thus more noble than the metal of theinternal electrodes. Since the sintering aid is freely accessible forthe sintering atmosphere, and since in contrast the internal electrodesare not freely accessible for the sintering atmosphere because of beinglocated in the interior of the base body, in the case of a sinteringatmosphere that deviates from ideal conditions, in spite of the greaterredox potential the sintering aid is modified by the atmosphere evenbefore the internal electrodes. At the same time, the internalelectrodes are preserved unchanged, which is desired.

In addition, a ceramic multi-layer component is provided that has a basebody with a sintered ceramic. The base body contains at least oneinternal electrode, at least the surface of which contains metal. Theinternal electrode contains a metal whose redox potential is lower thanor equal to the redox potential of copper. The internal electrodes, ortheir metallic surfaces, border directly on the sintered ceramic of thebase body. A layer or surface areas with oxidized metal of the internalelectrode are not present. Such a multi-layer component can be producedusing the specified method. It has the advantage that because of theabsence of metal oxide between the internal electrodes and the sinteredceramic, the electrical properties of the multi-layer component areimproved.

In addition, a retaining device is specified that is designed for usewhen sintering ceramic multi-layer components having metal-containinginternal electrodes. The retaining device is suitable for accommodatinga large number of unsintered components. On the surface of the retainingdevice there is a material that is able to bind and release again a gascontained in the sintering atmosphere.

Such a retaining device has the advantage that it enables easyimplementation of the specified method for producing a ceramicmulti-layer component. In addition, the retaining device has theadvantage that a large number of components can be produced with thesame advantageous conditions of the sintering atmosphere. The retainingdevice, or the surface of the retaining device, guarantees that thematerial which is beneficial for the sintering process, i.e., thesintering aid, is uniformly present in the sintering atmosphere and isalways in the vicinity of an unsintered component.

In addition, a retaining device is specified whose surface contains ametal whose redox potential is at least as great as the redox potentialof the metal contained in the internal electrodes of the component to besintered.

In an advantageous embodiment, the method for producing a ceramicmulti-layer component can be designed in such a way that bodies are usedwhose internal electrodes contain copper. Copper is also used as thesintering aid. The use of copper as the material for the internalelectrodes has the advantage that copper is simply and cheaply obtained.The use of copper as a sintering aid has the advantage that copper issimply and cheaply obtained, and that it can also be readily worked, sothat using a retaining device of copper when conducting the method isadvantageous.

Furthermore, a method for producing a ceramic multi-layer component inwhich the sintering atmosphere contains oxygen is advantageous. Oxygenis a gas which is utilized in many sintering processes. It is needed inorder to lend the unsintered ceramic the beneficial properties of thesintered ceramic.

In addition, the oxygen contained in the sintering atmosphere can easilybe bound and released again by a sintering aid of copper.

Also advantageous is a method for producing a ceramic multi-layercomponent in which the sintering atmosphere contains, in addition tooxygen, a mixture of hydrogen and water vapor. The equilibrium betweenhydrogen and water vapor makes it possible on the one hand toeffectively reduce the danger of oxidation of the internal electrodes.On the other hand, it allows the oxygen partial pressure in thesintering atmosphere to be stabilized. The use of copper as a sinteringaid also acts beneficially in this respect, since the reaction4Cu+2H₂0⇄2Cu₂O+2H₂⇄4Cu+0₂+2H₂catalyzes the equilibrium reaction2H₂0⇄O₂+2H₂and hence the state of equilibrium is reached significantly morerapidly.

A possibility as the ceramic material for the component is, for example,a ceramic with a piezoelectric effect. That makes it possible forpiezoelectric actuators to be produced advantageously. For example, apossibility is to use lead zirconate titanate as the ceramic material.

In addition, it is advantageous to use copper of a minimum impurity, asexhibited for example by electrolytic copper, for the sintering aid. Apossibility for example is oxygen-free copper with a purity of >99.9%.

In an advantageous embodiment, the retaining device consists of twoparts, which are separated from each other by a gap. The gap makes itpossible both for gases that arise during the sintering to escape andfor the evaporation of lead from the ceramic material to be controlled.

It is advantageous for the gap between the two parts of a container tobe between 0.5 and 10 mm in width. By adhering to these limits, it ispossible for enough gas to still escape from the components to besintered, while also preventing too much lead from evaporating off.

Another possibility is to provide a latticed insert in the container forthe retaining device.

In particular, when using copper or other easily worked materials, itcan be advantageous to design the retaining device in the form of asector of a circular ring, which enables the volume in rotating hearthsintering furnaces to be utilized optimally. These sector-shapedretaining devices can be completed to make a circular ring, and canoptimally fill the available volume in a rotating hearth sinteringfurnace with components held by the retaining device and to be sintered.

The invention will now be explained in greater detail on the basis ofexemplary embodiments and the matching figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a ceramic multi-layer component in aschematic cross section.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a retaining device in a schematic crosssection.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an additional retaining device in a schematiccross section.

FIG. 4 shows a baseplate of the retaining device from FIG. 3 in aschematic top view.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a time profile of the sintering temperatureduring the production of a component according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a ceramic multi-layer component produced with the exemplarymethod, having a base body 1 that contains a sintered ceramic 2. In theinterior of the base body 1 are internal electrodes 3, which have ametal-containing surface 12, and which in an advantageous embodimentcontain copper or even are made entirely of copper. The surface 12borders directly on the ceramic 2.

The component shown in FIG. 1 can be, for example, a piezo actuator,with a perovskite ceramic of the PZT type Pb(Zr_(x)Ti_(1-x))O₃ and withinternal electrodes of copper. A piezo actuator of this sort can beproduced by sintering a stack of stratified green sheets, with thetemperature profile during the sintering corresponding to thetemperature profile indicated in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the sinteringtemperature T is indicated as a function of the sintering time t. Thesintering temperature T has a maximum of 1005° C. At this temperaturethe oxygen partial pressure in the sintering chamber is 2.2×10⁷ bar. Theupper boundary oxygen partial pressure is given by the oxidation ofcopper, and is 6.3×10⁷ bar at this temperature. The lower boundaryoxygen partial pressure is given by the reduction of PbO in the ceramic,and is 1.7×10⁸ bar at this temperature. The oxygen partial pressure isthus in a range in which PbO is no longer reduced from the ceramic,which stabilizes the ceramic, and in which copper is furthermore not yetoxidized, which stabilizes the internal electrodes.

FIG. 2 shows a retaining device for use in the method for producing aceramic multi-layer component, where the retaining device includes acontainer 6 in which a latticed insert 4 is provided to accommodateunsintered components 5. Container 6 can be closed with a cover 7.Between container 6 and cover 7 there are means 8 for providing a gap 9between container 6 and cover 7. These means 8 can be for examplespacing elements made of a ceramic. Advantageously, the width B of thegap 9 is between 0.5 and 10 mm.

FIG. 3 shows an additional embodiment of the retaining device.Equivalent reference symbols designate corresponding elements from FIG.2. The retaining device includes a baseplate 10, which is covered by acap 11. Inside cap 11, a latticed insert 4 is provided to accommodateunsintered components 5.

The retaining device according to FIG. 3 has the advantage that when thelatticed insert 4 is attached to the baseplate 10, the retaining devicecan be operated even without the cap 11, and thus is also suitable foruse during binder removal. Baseplate 10 can advantageously be formed inthe shape of a sector of a circular ring, as may be seen in FIG. 4. Itis then advantageous to also design the latticed insert 4 and the cap 11in the shape of a sector of a circular ring. A plurality of baseplates10 and the corresponding latticed inserts 4 and caps 11 can be lined upand completed into a circular ring.

The present invention is not confined to the production of piezoactuators, but rather is applicable to all ceramic multi-layercomponents, in particular those that include metallic internalelectrodes or internal electrodes of non-noble metals.

For example, multi-layer capacitors are also possible that have internalelectrodes of copper, and contain BaNd₂Ti₄O₁₂ and Nd₂Ti₂O₇ as ceramicand ZnO—B₂0₃-SiO₂ as a glass frit.

1. A retaining device for use when sintering electrical componentscomprised of ceramic and electrodes inside the ceramic, the electrodescontaining metal, the retaining device comprising: a structure to holdthe electrical components, the structure having a surface that containsa sintering aid, the sintering aid comprising a material that is able tobind to a gas contained in the structure and to release the gas.
 2. Theretaining device of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises: a latticedinsert to hold the electrical components; a container that holds thelatticed insert; a cover for the container; and an element to provide agap between the container and the cover.
 3. The retaining device ofclaim 1, wherein the structure comprises: a baseplate; a latticed insertover the baseplate, the latticed insert for holding the electricalcomponents; a cap that substantially covers the latticed insert; and anelement to provide a gap between the baseplate and the cap.
 4. Theretaining device of claim 3, wherein the baseplate has a semi-circularshape.
 5. The retaining device of claim 1, wherein the gap is between0.5 mm and 10 mm.
 6. A retaining device for use when sinteringelectrical components comprised of ceramic and electrodes inside theceramic, the electrodes containing a first metal, the retaining devicecomprising: a structure to hold the electrical components, the structurehaving a surface that contains second metal, the second metal having aredox potential that is at least as great as a redox potential of thefirst metal.
 7. The retaining device of claim 6, wherein the structurecomprises a latticed insert to hold the electrical components; acontainer that holds the latticed insert; a cover for the container; andan element to provide a gap between the container and the cover.
 8. Theretaining device of claim 6, wherein the structure comprises abaseplate; a latticed insert over the baseplate, the latticed insert forholding the electrical components; a cap that substantially covers thelatticed insert; and an element to provide a gap between the baseplateand the cap.
 9. The retaining device of claim 8, wherein the baseplatehas a semi-circular shape.
 10. The retaining device of claim 6, whereinthe gap is between 0.5 mm and 10 mm.